Electric-circuit closer



April 24, 192s.

E. M. KYLE ET A1.

ELECTRIC CIRCUIT CLOSER Filed Deo. 1. 1,924

E4 gf Patented Apr. 24, 1928.

Lengte;77

UNITED STATES PATENT orricr.,

EDUARD M. KYLE AND EDWARD HRLEY, GF LAKEPORT, NEXV HAMPSHIRE.

ELEGTRIC-GIRCUIT CLOSER.

Application filed December view being to provide a simple, inexpensive, f

reliable and efficient type 'of circuit closer which is adapted for automatically closing a.

lire-alarm circuit ot suitable type, or 'for use in conjunction with automatic sprinkler ire-extinguishing systems so as to givean alarm at the time the extinguisher system is set into operation, in order that measures may be taken to cut oill theiow of an undue amount ot' water and preventing unnecessary water damage.

The invention consists of the features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts, hereinafter fully described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a diagrammatic elevational view of the device as used in a straight lirealarm circuit, showing the switch actuating plunger held open.

Figure 2 is a sectional view through the switch device as shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 showing the plunger detent released and the switch closed.

Figure 4 is a sectional view corresponding to Figures 2 and 3 through the switch casing.

Figure 5 is a. section on line 5 5 of Figure 4.

Figure is a detail view of the plunger.

In the practical embodiment of our invent-ion as disclosed in the drawing in connection with an alarm circuit alone, 1 designates a casing, made of metal or other suitable material and provided with an upper chamber 2 and a lower chamber 3, the latter opening through its base. The chamber 2 opens at its lower end into the chamber 3 and is provided at its upper end with an inturned annular flange 4 forming a guideway for the stem of a vertically movable plunger 5 having an enlarged portion or head 6 movable in said chamber 2 and adapted to be depressed into the chamber 3 by means of a coiled spring 7 disposed between the heads 6 and the flange 4.

The casing 1 rests upon a base 8 of insulating material, having an enlarged portion 9 entering the chamber 3 and in threaded engagement therewith and closing said chamber at its bottom portion. The base 8 forms a support for a pair of binding posts 10 and 11, the binding post 10 carrying a Contact 12 adapted to be engaged by a de- 'pressible spaingv Contact 13 1, 1924. Serial No. 753,254.

carried by the binding post 11, said contacts'being arranged within the-:chamber 3 and the contact 13 being normally arranged by its spring action out of engagement with the contact 12 and disposed in the path of movement or'l the plunger head (i. so 'that upon the depression ot said plunger by the action or the spring 7 the switch formed by the two contact members 12 and 13 will bc closed to close or en-A ergize the alarm circuit in which the circuit closing device is arranged.

An alarm circuit ot' simple type is herein shown for purposes of exemplitication, the

same including two conductors 14 and 15 forming one side ot the circuit, and a conductor 16 forming the other side ot the circuit, in which is arranged a battery or other source of electric energy 17 and a bell or other suitable signal device 18, adapted to be actuated upon the closing ot the circuit to give the desired alarm.

A detent mechanism of novel construction is provided for normally holding the plunger retracted against the pressure of its actuating spring 7. This detent comprises a rocker arm 19 of metal or other material capable of being heated and transmitting heat but having a high fusing or melting point. This arm is mounted intermediately upon a forked ulcrum 2O carried by an extension 21 from the casing 1, in spaced rela.- tion to an outwardly disposed abutment 22 also carried by said eXtension. @ne end of the arm 19 extends inwardly from the ulerum 2O and engages a recess 23 formed in the plunger stem 5, but the opposite end of the arm 19 rests upon the abutment 22 and is fastened thereto by a fusible connection 24, which may be solder or other material :tusible at a predetermined temperature. When the arm is fastened in position as described it is disposed in a. horizontal position at such an elevation as to hold the circuit closing plunger elevated so that the head 6 overlies the chamber 3 and is out of engagement with the spring contact 13. In the event of the breaking out of a fire in the vicinity of the circuit closer, and the resultant melting of the solder or fusible connection 24, the outer end of the arm 19 will be freed from the abutment 22, allowing said arm to tilt upon its fulcrum 20 under the pressure of the spring 11, whereupon the plunger will be .treed to be forced downwardly by the action of said spring to close the alarm circuit.

A circuit'closer embodying my invention may be manufactured and installed at a very W cost, is simple in construction7 and therefore not liable to get out of order, and is positive in action, thus ensuring maximum efficiency in service.

Having thus fully described our invention, We clainnn i Y In a circuitcloser, a easing having a plunger chamber, a Wall at the top of the plunger chamber having a plunger guide opening, an open-bottom enlargement at the bottom of the casing forming a base chamber, a horizontal arm integral with the top of the casing and provided with al forked ulcrum surface and an abutment surface, an insulated basehaving any upstanding boss threaded into and closing the bottom of the base'chamber, a pair of binding posts eX- tending through said boss, a contact spring connected with one of the binding posts and adapted to be depressed into engagement With the other binding post, a plunger in the plunger'chamber for depressing the contact spring, a'stem carried by the plunger and extendingA outwardly at its upper end through the guide opening in the top Wall of the casing,l said upper end of the plunger having aV recess, a sprlng in the casing for 'depressing the plunger,rand a rocker arm fulcrumed upon the forked fulcrum of' the horizontal arm and having its inner end engaging the recess in the plunger stem and its outer end adapted to rest upon the abutment.'

and to be secured thereto by fusible material.

In testimony whereof We aix 'our signatures. v

EDUARD M. KYLE. EDWARD F. vHURLEY- 

